Magic Dick Part 1 | Mark Hummel | J. Geils Band
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- #jgeilsband #bluesharmonica #magicdick #grownups
Magic Dick, (Richard Salwitz) plays harmonica for the J. Geils Band.
Salwitz was born in New London, Connecticut. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he met John "J." Geils and Danny Klein and became a founding member of the J. Geils Band in 1965. Salwitz's harmonica playing became a major and distinctive element in the J. Geils Band's sound during their hard-rocking 1970s heyday. His performance of "Whammer Jammer" on the band's live album Full Househas been particularly noted. In The Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979), music critic Dave Marsh described Salwitz as possibly "the best white musician to ever play blues harmonica." He was often referred to as "Magic Dick and his Lickin' Stick".
Mark Hummel
www.markhummel.com
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Accidental Productions / @accidentalproductions
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I spent around four years on the road with the J.Geils Band as their monitor mixer (1976-1979). To this day that time frame is still one of my fondest memories. Working with Dick was great and listening to this series of interviews is also great.
Nice! I just looked at a '79 clip. The sound was perfect- uncluttered but rockin'
Dick is the most kind and sincere guy. He's a good, fair and honest man.
That is story,that permeates envy in me And above all...thank you, you are a unique talent ✌️
I saw them from the first row in St. Cloud Minnesota in 1977 or 78. Ive never had so much fun. My band plays 90% of the J. gels catalogue.....its an honor and a delight.
The golden years for J. Geils!
I have never seen Magic Dick without his sunglasses.
I saw so many of the top groups of the 70s, Zep, Who, Stones etc. No group I ever saw came close to J. Geils Band in performance. Thank You Magic Dick and Mark!
Seeing Geils a few times live , What struck me was the amount of fun and joy the band was having while performing which added to my enjoyment, Magic Dick was a huge part of the bands personality. When someone says J.Geils he's the image that pops in my head. Such a huge body of work they created over the years. I love them.
The Harmonica thing really took off with the original Paul Butterfield Blues band. which happened o be an extraordinary band!
Little Walter REALLY started the amplified harmonica grooves! Everyone else jumped on the same page!
I remember practicing rhythms to Paul Butterfield Blues Band... And this Magic Dick in the J. Geil's Band. And of course, how about "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers recorded live at Fillmore East or West?!
Muddy Waters Live • with Johnny Winters?! As the late great Harley Davidson, U. S. Navy Veteran, Old Fort truck driver, John Johnston, out there in a construction business site • with Rod Baughman/Gary Weidemann 'Midwest Drywall Luggers' • would say "Ya gotta love it!!" ❤️
Stoop Down #39. That harp into always blew me away!🎶🎶😎
J. Geils Band Full House was my first favourite album when I was about 5 in the mid 80ies. I really loved that album as a little kid. The album hangs on the wall in my living room now.
My all-time favorite band. Saw them several times. Once in Houston in the early 80's at the Music Hall downtown. Undeniably the greatest concert I've been to before or since. Thanks for letting us listen in, Mark.
F wpi
Love you, Richard!. ROCK ON 🙏
@RickyRicardo-jd8ed Desilu Productions • "I Love Lucy" ❤️
J.Geils Band was one of the best bands I ever saw live so much fun. Great interview Thanks
Magic Dick you are by far the best harmonica player in the classic rock era.PERIOD! I guess they called you magic for a reason?
Back in the mid 1980's Downchild Blues Band was performing in my small city along with James Cotton and many other Blues performers. I knew the music promoter that had put the whole gig together and much to my surprise he invited JC to a party I was
having at my house so I asked him who was his favourite harmonic player was and he said Magic Dick ! ....true story.
Dick is honestly a very good person. Honest, fair and kind. I will always cherish the time that we spent hanging out and the countless times I saw you perform. Love you man!
'Live Full House' changed my life. I was in Virgin records in Coventry England where I grew up and John Bradbury, who was later the drummer in the Specials, was playing that album in the store.
I still have that vinyl and a bunch of 'inkie' UK music paper articles about the band from that era. Great to hear about the early days and that MD is into italian motorbikes, I know J Geils had Ferraris when they weren't insane prices. Great to hear these anecdotes, thanks!
The first time I heard Whammer Jammer, it was played by high school acquaintance Jimmy Gordon (whom you guys likely know). He played it on a city bus on the way home from a festival in Old Town, Alexandria. Jim later taught me a bit when we both happened to live in Brattleboro, VT. After I heard Jimmy play it, I went out and bought Full House. Great respect to both of you great harp players.
In 1973 , I heard the sound of a blues harmonica in the staircase. That began my live of the instrument. Started listening to John Mayall, Little Walter, James Cotton, Sonny Terry / Brownie McGee and J. Geils. Saw each of them in concert over the years. Played harp in a few small bands but regretfully never the blues, all originals so I missed out on my true love. Rewind to 2019, diagnosed with STAGE 4 TERMINAL LUNG CANCER!!! Damn, I need my lungs to play. Magic Dick saw a post of mine on having lung cancer and FaceTimed with me. What a wonderful human being. My all time favorite harp player and I got to met. WOW. Now that's a story. Also, I believe he got the name MAGIC because as a young man was into magic. Am I correct? They call me Lenny "Blue".
So much respect for you Magic! As a twelve year old with two older brothers. My home was constantly blaring Geils!
J Geils used to play Detroit in the early 70's so much I always thought for years they were a Detroit band :-) Peace
Heard Homework when I was in 7th grade.I was an instant fan.They played the Armory down the street in my town in 71? And saw em a few more times.They played the Cape Cod arena in 78 ? and it was the greatest show ever!
Been I diehard fan since the first time I heard WhammerJammer back in the early 70's. Thanks Mark for doing this great interview and thanks Magic Dick for sharing your stories and of course for all the awesome J. Geils Band music!
Over fifty years ago: J.Geils Band opening for Muddy Waters Band at New Penelope in Montreal, I was watching the show off-stage standing next to the fiercely elegant Mr. Waters. After MD played a solo, Waters looked over to me, made eye conact and said, with inimitable cool and languidity:
“If that boy eat p*$$y like he play that harp, he’ll do all right.” Where did the years go?
Love from Philadelphia, blew the doors off the spectrum everytime!
The first half of the interview was very interesting.
I grew up in Massachusetts and bought their first album after reading a very positive review in Rolling Stone.
Many years later when I was playing guitar in a band we did the song “Wait,” which was the first song off that album.
It was more of a piano oriented song but had a nice feel.
And we also did their version of “First I Look at the Purse.”
Incredible band that had many great albums. They were one of my favorites but so sorry I was never able to see them live.
And Bluestime! A fabulous blues band with both Magic Dick and J Geils, as well as a strong rhythm section of Mudcat Ward and Steve Ramsey. They were on a blues cruise in the mid-'90s and I LOVED them!
....and Jerry Miller of Mobey Grape.
Saw bluestime at small place in jersey called the Stanhope house stood right in front of em great show
❤d it. ..after the strange set up
Saw J Geils, Framptons Camel adn Slade at The Academy of Music in 1972 (?) Intimate setting...very cool
great to discover this interview, appreciate it. hard to believe this Nov makes 40 years since the Wolf departure. still remember reading it in Rolling Stone with total shock.
James Cotton. Love it. Saw him numerous times at the Shaboo Inn in Storrs, CT.
Never saw him but he was fantastic and Shaboo I only went once during my college days at STCC....hard to find it...used to go to 5th Alarm club on Worthingto Street in Springfield in mid 70 s...saw a Band called Fat that had a guy that played Harmonica
Rest easy J. Thanks Magic Dick. 1st saw you guys in 76 in Manchester NH. My 1st concert. You play with the band Styx. Always loved your harp playing.
This fellow is vey famous in Vancouver
!!
Two of my favorite Magic Dick solos are in "I'm Not Rough" from the Geils album, and "Chimes" from the Blow Your Face Out album. Neither are flashy but they fit the song so well.
They opened for Humble Pie and I was blown away! Great show! Been a fan ever since.
Working at Montgomery Ward's in Frederick Maryland loading dock, I met a guy who had a store in the mall making leather stuff. He had a harmonica side holster with three harmonicas in it. He played a little bit and I thought that sounds really good can you make me one of those and I'll go get three harmonicas to stick in it. Back then Hohner harmonicas were wooden in the center. They would swell when they got wet.
That would wear on your lips and they'd start to swell a bit after playing a while.
I never learned how to play along with other guitar players and harmonica players, but I did learn whammer Jammer verbatim. Mostly for myself to take on the challenge. To me it was like conquering a great math problem. Since I what's unwilling to apply myself to algebra math and geometry, I applied myself to a certain degree to musical instruments.
First chair trumpets in the high school band, never practiced, I knew no Theory, but would play by ear, and watch Ike A. where he put fingers down on the trumpet.
Then I got a hold of my brother's guitar and his Harman Kardon stereo and begin to jam with Rodger Daltrey, Pete townsend, Robin Trower, the Eagles, America...
I never got into any Jay geils song except whammer jammer.
My genre was more melodious rock, and then the Eagle, Lynyrd skynyrd, Dickey Betts blue sky, The Allman brothers, the outlaws, Eddie money, Boston, the cars, Pink Floyd's lead guitarist David Gilmour pretty phenomenal. Richard salitz magic dick was the most influential harmonica player I've ever heard and was my whole reason for learning to play harmonica. I still love hearing him play.
Of course Bob Dylan and Neil Young were easy to imitate. Like a lot of their stuff too.
At the age of 23, I got tuned onto Christian rock because I'd had an experience with Jesus Christ near Annapolis Inner Harbor by the Naval Academy.
The devil's attack on my inner peace I brought me to my wits end period with no other options but suicide, I told the friend.
Kevin K said, " Ben man, aren't you a christian? I didn't know what that meant except if you're religious? And no, I hadn't been for 5 years since I left home. "Jesus man, trust Jesus", he said. Instantly I sensed the presence of Jesus Christ walk into my heart, mind and soul.
I said, " Lord, you're real.
Yes, and I've been waiting 23 years for us to know each other. That was it, within a week or so I was seeking the Lord reading his good word in the New Testament and I decided to toss my records like Running With The devil, Back in Black and got kicked out of my own rock band cuz I wouldn't sing a friend of the devil's a friend of mine anymore.
Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of rock, and I love those artists, and a lot of there tunes, I just can't abide some lyrics now.
This was a great interview. And thank you to both men
ThanQ,Richard.
Fabulous interview dear Mark ! I spend so much good times listening to their records and our harmonica player and several other in FRance were trying hard to play Whammer Jammer the masterpiece ! Love the Bluestime album I'm gonna broadcast it in my radio show it's so great to hear J Geils and Magic Dick reconnecting around serious blues
Reach out, we'd love to be on your show!
@@MarkHummelsHarmonicaParty I send you a mail
In early and mid 1970 my band played a number of opening sets for the J Geils Band. One of the best was in the summer at a small roller rink on the beach in Westerly RI. A teen center. Their set just torched the place. I think they had finished recording the first album. They had no roadies. Great memory.
Very informative and I also play harmonica
I always been the low key type, even back then, but wen J. Geils band rocked the Bosron Garden, Id find myself goin nuts, bouncing on top of rhe seatbacks, totally overcome by the energy.
Amazing band
You are seriously magical & amazing and you blew every house down. Thankyou thankyou thankyou. If I could pay you to preform for just a bit for my not to be much longer for this world Father you would make my family's life worth existing. We all love you. We are Detroit people that truly love you.
I have their Full House album
Some of the best concerts I saw of J. Geils Band were at the New Haven Coliseum, usually on New Years Eve. Great memories.
I remember winterland San Francisco 1970s they played like four encores. Great show you can still see it on RUclips
When I was 16 I saw Sonny Terry in Chicago at the Quiet Knight and he blew my mind.
One of my very first inspirations on Harmonica
great video been all over j geils band since first album thats when i got a harp.
I caught J and the boys several times and J and Magic doin Blues Time. There was no better party band. I musta got lost during the House Party boy did they ever Give it to me. It was a Southside Shuffle. Then Whammer Jammer got played and I almost lost my mind.
I saw the J guiles blues band minus Peter Wolf 30 years ago in Detroit. They were still great. Not surprised Magic has still got it.
Saw these guys three times at the Commack Arena L.I. N.Y.. Usually it would be general admission and there would be three bands. I remember seeing them with Styx and Blue Oyster Cult the last time. An amazing period in my life. I would love a time machine.
So cool that he digs all the jazz cats !
Explainifies his wonderful musicality a bit.
I’ve always thought “full House” to be the most killer live album ever. We would play it in Dawson Creek way back when,& that’s saying something,( IMO)😄
Great interview Mark!
I caught the J. Geils band, 5th row center stage, in 1981 and it's still the best concert I've witnessed. Magic Dick was amazing. I'd never seen a harmonica player used as a lead instrument in a rock band. During the show there were times I thought J was performing a guitar solo, but it was Dick wailing away on the harmonica. KIller stuff.
His solos do blast like guitar solos.Totally agree.👍🙂
What a fantastic informative interview!!Thank you!!
Great stuff! Lived in Worcester and took some courses at WPI..nice story on how the band started. Both of you are great harp players and love your work !
Been to countless concerts!
The funnest of them all on every occasion is the J. Geils Band! ❤
Magic Dick inspired all of us to buy harmonica’s. INCREDIBLE! 🎉
HARPSTER!
Glad you turned up on my RUclips feed I read your book a while back very nice read... also saw you and Rusty Zinn play together as a Duo at Biscuits and Blues sometimes in 2009 that was a great show, I believed you opened for Sunny Rhodes that night, can't remember now😂
BLOW YOUR FACE OUT tour.
Love the band. What are the funnest concerts. Late seventies early eighties. Saint Paul Civic center auditorium.
1500 seats.
The floor and two balconies.
Everybody had a great seat.
I also started trumpet in the 3rd grade, took lessons thru the 7th grade but had no inspiration for it. Didn’t listen to jazz or anything with a trumpet. I was just being a good boy and going to my lessons and half-heartedly practicing. Picked up guitar in college and my trumpet lessons served me somewhat but not much!
They rock me in Houston tx 81 !
Great stuff!😎
Magic Dick ROCKED THE CAMELS ASS! The J Geils Band was at the top with regard to consistently getting a crowd on its feet. When they played, it was almost impossible to not dance.
Thank you !
With Magic Dick in a hotel? 😉
Dear Gentleman, thanks for this video!
I'm 66 now and you two look better than I do 😇
My first concert was in 1972 and you and The J Giels Band Blew up San Diego Stadium along with Foghat!
It was a local fm radio KGB 101 Concert for Charity.
Entry price was $1.01 😎
I was only 14 at the time! Thank you so much for that great performance and congratulations on your successful career. God Bless!
Ii saw Magic Dick...with J/Geils of course. Back in Chicago's Aragon ball Room back in October 75. I was mainly there to see and here the German wunderkind Michael Schenker with UFO who opened for them. They were great. Some ways into the show Peter yelled,
"and Magic Dick on harmonica." and he wailed. Musta got Lost was their big hit then. They had 2 careers really w/Love Stinks and Centerfold later. Glad to have been there.
Congratulations on a fantastic career in Rock N Roll!!!! Douglas Grossman/Campmate Camp Onota as well as BTP mates>
J Geils at Winterland in SF, CAand Mark Hummel at Armando’s in Martinez, CA
Best Venues best bands ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Armando’s in MARTINEZ, CA? Sonofagun. I missed out. Damn. However, I did catch them at Winterland with Slade and Back Door-the lamest band I had the misfortune of hearing. Can’t win ‘em all
I started out as a Paul Buttefied player until I heard Magic Dick.
Hi MArk, Great interview, I was there at the beginnings and J. Geils Blues Band, The Dates you use are a little different I think... I first saw the J Geils Blues band live at The Worcester Auditorium. You guys opened for the Spirit and Canned heat show I believe? J was playing a Gold top Les Paul wearing a bid suit. You were I believe a quartet. Peter Wolf wasn't there then. He joined the band a little later I believe. This was around 1968-69? Your harp playing and the band played a terrific set of Chicago style blues. (My local band at the time was "The Haze", I also went to and graduated from years later WPI.) -Barry Tashian. (and the Remains) were amazing. They later played the Comic Strip and Barry had switched to play lead guitar and was the front man. They were really amaziing live! FWIW I'm still at WPI and still playing. I could go on but I want to finish the interview. Its' so cool to actually hear you in person speaking. (Condolences for Jay, Rest in Peace) You were and still are great) ..Best Regards,
-doug
❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️, All that JaZZ!.
Barry was also a pretty decent Guitarist!!! Love you Barry Tashian, Barry and The Remains,; Steven and Peter both came from The Hallucinations, One of Boston,s premier Rock n Roll Bands!!
What Alto Reed was for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band is what Magic Dick was for The J Giels Band. PorkChopPete, Detroit
Tanks,Bee 3 Jesus, Bringing it all black Home
Inquire as to………any possibility what so ever. One note at a time turns 66. I love my Marine-Band.
Saw them 4x’s…. They were always tight/killer crowd involvement…. I was at the Garden for Blow you face out album Monkey Island release
“Those Bad Boys from Boston “
dick is an incredible guy in fact they all were incredible as a band!.
One of my favorite guitar solos One Last Kiss wasnt a guitar at all it was Dick on the harp
He blast out solos like a lead guitarist.Exordinary soloist.
Weird interview as far as how they were not facing each other. Very awkward the way Dick had to talk over his shoulder . Otherwise a good interview.
Open the door richard
Is that early footage from 1965 posted anywhere? I'd love to hear how Magic was playing back then!
Monkey Island show was at the Music Hall on Tremont
HaHaHa! thats awesome! Love it! "Isnt one of the albums called Love stinks?"
Yeah...shitty music...they sold out to be top 40
❤️ ewe Richard
Bring it on Homey too Geronimo
J. Geils played at Topsfield Fair about 1971 or so and the crowd that showed up was way too big for the venue. So it resulted into a bit of an unruly mob situation and a lot of damage was done. Probably poor planning and understanding of how big a crowd they would attract on the part of the Fair people, but who knows! The fair didn't have a rock group or anything close to it for a generation after that! My brother and a few friends went but never got in and as for me, I was making an awkwardly unsuccessful attempt to get into some girl's pants. Guess I was gonna lose out either I went that night!
How come they are not conducting this interview face-to-face? The one guy is sitting behind the other guy. I don't quite get it. It's a rather strange arrangement for two people talking together.
Hi, thanks for you comment and viewing the show. This interview was done in a tiny hotel room while Mark and Magic Dick were on tour. It was the best we could do with what we had. Stay with us, hopefully you won’t be disappointed.
Open the door, Richard
Austin High Gang, not Over the Hill.
Blues tyme
Kansas we GE TT A AMEN 🙏?.
their first record was out the same time as “sticky fingers” the uber goober if i recall correctly. mtv definitely helped their career. j guiles wrecked the band when they fired peter.
Interviewer really likes talking over the subject
This interviewer talks way too much.
Please stop repeating their answers and constantly interjecting “yeah” “uh huh” etc… it ruins the flow of the interview.
Great to hear Magic talk about origins.
Have to say though, your format is very uncomfortable, obviously for Dick and for us. Both of you looking at whatever was recording is awkward.
Sorry about that. This was done in a tiny hotel room while on tour. Space was very limited and we did what we could with what we had.
@@MarkHummelsHarmonicaParty Thanks for your reply. It's obvious the space was limited and maybe you could've positioned better. What I ended up doing was just listening without watching. Very interesting, great to hear his back-story. A fabulous harp player up there with all the great well known.
I had the pleasure of attending an intimate performance by Bluestime and chatting with Dick & J afterwards about the early days.
It was a shame what happened to the Geils band with the other members trying to perform without J but that's rock and roll I guess. I'm sure there's a lot more to that story.
A sad day when J died.
I'd love to listen to an interview with Dick playing some examples of his techniques and style vs his influences such as Walter.
Best to you both.
Our shows are always available as audio only podcasts. Available on all podcast platforms.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mark-hummels-harmonica-party/id1570061845
@@MarkHummelsHarmonicaParty Good to know. I've just learned of your channel.
I remember hearing that strong Harmonica sound on their song "" Rage in a Cage"""